Sailing Virgins Reviews 43

We had the pleasure of James and Jack both instructing us through the performance cat course. The excitement they had for sailing and depth of knowledge was infectious. I had never taken a sailing course prior and this being my first time I felt overwhelmed initially but they had amazing patience and tailored the learning to a level I could manage. In the end I learned enough to feel confident moving forward that I someday could skipper on my own!
One of my favorite things about Sailing Virgins is the morning routine of breathing, exercise and meditation! I plan to sail again with them soon!

The week I spent with Sailing Virgins in the BVI will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable weeks of my life. Jack and James are legends - hugely helpful from even before booking, and generously accommodating throughout. On the water they are extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of sailing, and are superb teachers. I left the week feeling completely with no doubt that I could bareboat charter in the BVI.

After dropping anchor, they also know how to have a great time, and are up for anything - from a quiet night on the boat under the stars to a rowdy beach bar dance party.

The bottom line - if you're a young man or woman looking to learn a TON about sailing and also have a phenomenal time while doing it, do not looking further. Sailing Virgins is the best there is, hands down. I really can't wait for my next week with these guys. Thanks a million.
- Ben

Great week on the water! would recommend to anyone looking to learn how to sail!

Take everything you thought this trip would be and throw it out the window. Sailing Virgins is more than that! More adventurous, more intense, more fun! It’s hard for me to sit here and collect my thoughts on my experience because there were so many amazing things that happened over the course of the week. First and foremost, James and Jack are LEGENDS! Two of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve met. Their passion and knowledge about sailing is extraordinary. But what’s even more extraordinary is their passion for teaching their students about sailing. While completing the NauticEd course online prior to the trip, it sometimes felt overwhelming and there were concepts that didn’t quite click. I’m so glad that I didn’t give up on it though, because once we were out on the water James and Jack were able to take the theory that NauticEd had laid the foundation for and put it in to practical use.

On our course, the “Up Island Adventure”, we sailed from St. Martin to the British Virgin Islands, by way of Saba. Sailing Virgins will take you to the most beautiful places! I’m still in awe of Saba, what I can only describe as a beautiful utopian village on a 3,000ft mountain that comes screaming out of the ocean. But getting to beautiful places doesn’t always come easy. If it did, everyone would be doing it! Parts of our trip were intense, in the best thrill seeking, adventurous way possible. Who knew that on my second day sailing ever we would be undertaking a 19-hour sail. James and Jack have confidence in their students to complete trips like this, and with their instruction it seems as if anything is possible. I had no sailing experience before this trip and I’m still surprised at how much I learned in just one week! Even if you’re an experienced sailor, Sailing Virgins has something to teach you.

Other than learning how to sail, for me one of the best things about Sailing Virgins was connecting with other like-minded people. People who want to experience adventure and see the world in a different way. There’s an immediate connection with everyone else on the boat because you’re all invested in the learning experience, and they all want to push the limits a little bit to make it an adventure you’ll never forget. I left Sailing Virgins with five new friends and a ton of stories! If you have any doubt in your mind about taking this course, DO IT! Join the fun and make some memories you’ll never forget.

I can never say it enough, thank you James, Jack, and Celine! Hope to sail with you all again soon.

Just finished 2 weeks on Libertas with Sailing Virgins on their up island adventure sailing course. It feels like I just had the best dream, but it was all reality! If you want to learn how to sail, or improve your existing sailing skills, Sailing Virgins beautifully combines sailing instruction with daily adventures and fun. I learned a ton about sailing all while travelling around the Caribbean islands with my new friends. We saw whales breaching, swam with wild dolphins, hiked to waterfalls in the jungle, ate delicious food, sailed under the stars and moon, snorkelled with hundreds of fish, laughed a lot, and made so many memories. Sailing from Martinique to Saint Martin was very educational, learning about the local cultures and the differences between each island and brushing up on my french. James, Jack and Celine are all incredible people and I would recommend taking a course with them to anyone who loves to be on the water and has a heart for adventure. Time flies on the water so I would also recommend booking more time than you think you should. :) Just do it!

Absolutely brilliant and totally fun is what comes to mind when I reflect on my Sailing Virgins experience of a Lifetime. The Sailing Virgins beginner course I took was one in which pedagogy became alive in a conducive, friendly and welcoming environment. Captains Jack and James were excellent instructors who took the time to reinforce concepts taught daily. They both possess an amazing sense of humor that helped to create an atmosphere where learning could take place effortlessly. "Sailing is Wet". It wets your appetite for so much more. As I sit and write this review on land I am itching to get out on the water and have the winds blow me across the seas to someplace new and magical as was Saba on my Island Adventure Course. Sailing Virgins has helped me to have a greater appreciation an uttermost respect for the men and women in the maritime industry. I salute you Captains Jack and James wherever you may be around the world. Memories of my experience with Sailing Virgins will forever be etched in the deepest parts of my mind. Ever grateful to my friend Captain Mr. Robert Conner "Wait-Wait" for having recommended you to me. It was totally heartfelt as a Virgin Islander to be a part of such an amazing Sailing School as Sailing Virgins. Yours humbly Jason Callwood

I couldn’t recommend Sailing Virgins enough for anyone who wants to learn to sail in a fun, relaxed and hands-on environment.

I was a complete novice who had never even been on a sailboat and I have to admit when I started going through the NauticEd courses online I felt a little in over my head, but the minute we got on the boat (Libby!) I was put at ease. I was really blown away by how much of the theoretical stuff fell into place once I was in a practical environment (thanks to Jack’s expert instruction of course!). I never in a million years expected that we would be at the helm (check me out using the lingo! 😉) on the very first day!

We were a pretty small group for the week, just one other person (also a beginner) and Jack, which meant lots of hands-on experience! The intensity and pace of the course was very much dictated by us and what we were looking to get out of the week which was great, and meant that we enjoyed the perfect balance of sailing instruction coupled with getting to explore the beautiful Caribbean. Some of the highlights of the week included snorkelling with sea turtles, hiking up Mont Pelee, anchoring in a different town every night, sunset dinners on the beach, some “champagne sailing”, and doing shots of local rum with other sailors we met along the way! And how could I forget…SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS!!! Definitely the highlight of the week (and probably of my life, let’s be honest!), it was such a spontaneous and magical encounter, definitely one that I’ll never forget! 😃 I’ve done a lot of backpacking and as an avid traveller one of my other favourite things about the week was getting to explore the island from a flipped perspective - arriving into a new place by boat each evening with a view of the whole town and landscape.

You can tell that Jack and James eat, sleep and breathe sailing, and their passion and enthusiasm for sailing as both a sport and a lifestyle is contagious! With Sailing Virgins, they have created an experience that is adventurous, fun and relaxed whilst still being super professional. They have somehow managed to turn a world that can sometimes feels a little exclusive and inaccessible into something super welcoming and unassuming!

Whilst I was initially attracted to the travel and adventure aspect of the course I think after this week I’ve definitely caught the sailing bug and I’ll 100% be coming back for Ex-week! It was such a pleasure to meet you Jack, James and Celine and all the other skippers we met along the way, make sure you get in touch if you’re ever headed to Ireland! 😃

Spending three weeks onboard Libby and not just learning how to sail and develop confidence in boat handling but taking in the breathtaking scenery, amazing people from all over the world and local experience of the islands made this trip unforgettable.

Jack and James are incredible instructors who are letting you be part of their passion for sailing and create a hands on learning experience. From the first moment on, Jack shows his confidence in you and after a while trusts you with full control. We were able to get the boat ready, lift the anchor or sail off a mooring buoy, set the sails and get on the way to the next destination. We explored new places each day and the thrive for adventure made us discover true gems in the Western Indies. I started my adventure snorkeling underwater sculptures and each day provided me with a new memory like seeing the happiness of the local people on our shore visits, walking along the most beautiful beaches, swimming with turtles and eating incredible Caribbean food.

I got to know the art of enjoying the journey in combination with learning how to sail. I am more than grateful to be part of the Sailing Virgins family!

I just earned my American Sailing Association (“ASA”) 101 & 103 certifications after spending a week with Sailing Virgins in Martinique. Although my expectations were high, this trip is in a league of its own. Our week consisted of sailing from town to town, snorkeling, exploring the local terrain, and eating fantastic food (both on board and on land). Our instructor for the week, Jack Karger, was an incredible teacher. His passion for sailing (and patience with us learning) was infectious and created a positive environment to have fun/learn. Overall, this isn’t simply a sailing school, but rather a sailing adventure. Every hour it seemed like I was living in a Hollywood-esque adventure that embodied the “sailing lifestyle,” which Sailing Virgins actively promotes. I would recommend Sailing Virgins to anyone wanting to sail, or even simply have an adventure! I promise Sailing Virgins will more than exceed your expectations.

Background: When picking a sailing school, I had a few requirements, I wanted: (i) a legitimate operation with a relatively new boat (knowing many schools had been damaged by recent Hurricanes), (ii) ASA certification, and (iii) a fun and adventures, but yet laid back atmosphere (compared to doing chalk talk onshore and sailing around a bay). Therefore, I literally called the ASA office in Los Angeles and asked for recommendations. They sent me a list of over twenty sailing schools in the Caribbean (the region I requested due to warm weather), and I literally researched them all. I narrowed the list down to Sailing Virgins and another school on a different island. Eventually, I picked Sailing Virgins largely due to James Kell’s willingness to answer all my questions about logistics, sailing curriculum, and the overarching itinerary. Every time I contacted James, he was kind and professional, and either emailed or called back within 24 hours. These quick responses let me know that Sailing Virgins was a reliable organization that truly cared about its customers, which is a conclusion that proved extremely accurate. Additionally, I was impressed by Sailing Virgin’s online reviews, many of which were recent and detailed.

The course itself is designed to teach students how to sail by traveling between locations. I found this method was extremely effective and fun. Even though I must’ve asked the same questions dozens of times, Jack was always eager to provide instruction. In addition to sailing techniques, During the trip you completely operate the boat’s mechanisms. You learn to manage the anchor, electrical units, water pump, engine, and even the dingy/tender. Even though the curriculum was comprehensive, we always had fun with every activity. We sailed around the island, snorkeled every day, and went ashore in the mornings and nights to explore each town and eat at local restaurants. On the last day, I took my ASA examinations and passed!

Overall, my experience with Sailing Virgins was amazing. I’ve already started convincing my friends to book their own trips with James and Jack. The entire week gave me a sense of the “sailing lifestyle,” which cannot be understated. Sailing Virgins is definitely an adventure-based sailing school, and will certainly exceed your expectations.

Jack was an incredible coach. His passion for the sport was obvious from day 1 and bleeds through into every lesson he imparted upon his crew each day. Being able to so rapidly turn our NauticEd theory into practice through Jack`s instruction was the most rewarding part of the course. It's also worth mentioning the aspect of the course that is likely unique to Sailing Virgins which is Jacks preference for sailing to new adventures. The course was not just about sailing, but also coupled with epic snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles, cliff jumping, exploring volcanic ruins, and plenty of local French dining. Enjoying everything each days new locaiton has to offer is what sailing is all about! I would not hesitate recommending to anyone to join the Sailing Virgins family on their next adventure.

Recently finished a weeklong sailing course from Martinique to St. Vincent! This was essentially my first sailing experience, so it was awesome to go from zero practicable skills to contributing crew member. We covered all aspects of sailing and got to hammer away at many of them- from passage planning to tacking to parking.

Additionally, the week was an absolute blast. Hell of an adventure through the Caribbean with some awesome people. James and Jack are fantastic sailors and great guys leading the charge. Will definitely be back on another trip!

Sailing Virgins is unreal — worth every penny and more. You will learn to sail, explore new places each day and night, and meet legendary people from all over the world all in one trip. The passion for sailing aboard Libertas is contagious no matter your skill level — and the best part is that YOU will be sailing the boat. In my two weeks on course, Jack and James entrusted us full control over the navigation, the helm and the sails. There is no better way to quickly develop confidence in boat handling. Epic.

I would highly recommend Sailing Virgins to anyone in their 20s and 30s looking for a full-on adventure mixed with an unparalleled sailing instructing experience.

The full story:
I went to sailing camp for years when I was younger but never found the dedication to keep up with it. Since I was a teenager, I always wanted a second chance to replicate those experiences but always found myself stopping short out of fear that if I hadn’t learned it now, it was too late. Cue Sailing Virgins. In some magical way, it felt like I was able to turn back the clock and learn to sail with the same freedom and humility as I did when I was a kid. Except this time around, we were able to explore new countries together, see the world from a different perspective and make new lifelong friends.

I had the unbelievable opportunity to spend two weeks on course with Jack and James, and couldn’t have been more impressed. More specifically, I was blown away by their ability to tailor the instruction each week of the course to the needs of the students on board.

The first week, I was on course with fellow sailing beginners. We needed basic introductions/refreshers and spent most of the week on knots, reading charts, docking and basic sailing maneuvers. The second week, however, I was joined by two full fledged sailors looking to fine tune their already proficient resumes. Sailing Virgins immediately rose to the task, and it was incredible to see how seamlessly they evolved the course to the next level. Thankfully for my own ego, they managed to beautifully transition my rookie abilities into a higher level of sailing within just one week. I felt completely comfortable with the loftier concepts and am confident that my sailing is the better for it.

My initial motivation to book with Sailing Virgins was to experience a sweet vacation and hopefully pick up a few tricks of the trade to become more useful crew on a boat. Having now completed the course, I can now see a glide path to becoming a skipper. I would never have dreamed it was possible if it weren’t for the positive vibes and genuine encouragement from Sailing Virgins.

Whether you are a newcomer to sailing but have an adventurous spirit and want to pick up a new life skill, or a seasoned charterer looking to fine tune your sailing ways, Sailing Virgins is the right place for you!

This trip was incredible. The experience with James and Sailing Virgins was better than I expected. Don't live vicariously through me, make your own experience.

I found Sailing Virgins online looking for a combination of active vacation, sailing instruction, and immersion in world culture. I’m a mixed gas diver, skydiver, skier, and hiker; James and Sailing Virgins exceeded my expectations for an active vacation and delivered a world class experience in Martinique. They were incredibly responsive and worked with me to understand my skill level and schedule me for the right course. I recommend using the Sailing Virgins website as a resource to prepare for the trip and get up to speed on packing lists, travel, travel insurance, and sailing instruction. I booked my own travel to Martinique based on arrival recommendations from Sailing Virgins and met with James in Le Marin, Martinique.

Libertas is a great boat. Onboard and underway we found a healthy balance between meals onboard and dinner ashore. We sailed up the west coast of Martinique, stopping in some amazing coastal towns with some hidden gems for dinner. French Creole restaurants with quality that you would expect to find in Paris, London, or Manhattan but very quaint and low key.

James and Sailing Virgins are extremely professional sailors as well as patient instructors that integrate you in a crew experience. I’ve lived in the Pacific area for about eight years and traveled around the world. I will tell anyone, to include my best friends, they should learn to sail with Sailing Virgins and take the opportunity to experience their own adventure.

I completed two sailing courses with Sailing Virgins this summer (June/July 2017). I came in with little sailing experience and can't recommend Sailing Virgins enough. I loved how Sailing Virgins takes a new approach to sailing by combining great instruction with full-on adventure. Furthermore, they tailor to a younger crowd which is different from any other school I came across. If you've always wanted to learn how to sail, these guys are totally the way to go.

Just finished the down island adventure! It was an incredible week of sailing. From the great instruction to timeless moments at sea / coming into port every aspect was refreshing and vitalizing. I would highly recommend Sailing Virgins for anyone interested from starting out to preparing to buy a boat and picking up final tips. Why not do it all in an enjoyable fashion? You'll pick up some of the most important and unnamed rules that are vital to sailing!

I had an excellent week with Sailing Virgins with James as our captain. I learned a ton and feel very confident in day sailing. I would recommend Sailing Virgins to anybody interested in sailing.

We spent a week aboard SV Libertas with James. Was an unforgettable week. Can't recommend highly enough!

James my brother! I had such an amazing week and learned so much along the way. I appreciate the professionalism, patience and willingness to share knowledge extended by Hylton, Rupert and yourself. Most of all the apparent love and enthusiasm for sailing displayed by all members of your team.

While I was on travel in the Caribbean, the spontaneous opportunity came up to join this sailing school. Two friends of mine and I booked a trip for half a week. We had no experience at all and just jumped into to the fascinating world of sailing. On the boat we stayed with the instructor and 3 other students. In total we were a group of 7 people, which was an excellent size of Group.
Everyone was on a different level of sailing knowledge, but this made the team even better. Because of that, the more experienced students could get more challenging tasks and also helped me and my friends to strengthen the basics we were about to learn. I felt that the instructor teaches everyone individually at the best, even though we were all so different.
We all got along very well from the first moment and enjoyed the time together.
Besides that, we got to know so many people at the different island we visited and had a lot of fun.
The Caribbean is a perfect spot for sailing, but also other locations will be wonderful. James, the owner of Sailing Virgins, organizes the sailing courses and trips fantastic. He is a really courteous person and it will be a pleasure for you to meet him.
I can highly recommend to book a trip with Sailing Virgins. You will feel so blessed while sailing with this excellent sailing school.

Can't thank James enough! The trip was the perfect balance of a relaxing vacation, getting to see some of the most beautiful Islands in the BVI and learning to sail! Having little to zero previous sailing knowledge this was a fantastic experience, bringing a lot of fun to learning how to sail. I can't wait to be back for more!